Israel keeps stranglehold on Gaza 'freedom'

Page Tools

Israel says it will continue to control Palestinian trade and
travel from the Gaza Strip even after it removes its troops and
settlers from the occupied territory, a process set to begin this
weekend.

Palestinians say that Israel's tight restrictions on people and
goods entering the fenced-off enclave will turn Gaza into a de
facto prison for 1.3 million people, stifle trade and create severe
poverty.

Lengthy security checks, which can last days, mean that
Palestinian produce can rot before it is taken to market, while
exporters of vegetables, fruit and flowers become dependent on
Israeli middlemen who can dictate prices.

The relatively free movement of Israeli goods and produce, on
the other hand, gives Israeli goods a price advantage over
Palestinian competitors in the occupied territories.

Israel says that the blockade of land, air and sea access is
necessary to prevent Palestinians from obtaining weapons.

During the present uprising against Israeli military rule,
Palestinians have fired thousands of homemade missiles at Israeli
towns and communities and at Jewish settlements inside the Gaza
Strip.

The Israeli security cabinet announced on Monday that after
"disengagement" was complete, it would allow Palestinian goods and
people to travel to Egypt only by a new border terminal to be built
where Israel, Gaza and Egypt meet. The present crossing at Rafah
borders only Gaza and Egypt but is controlled by Israel.

The US economic envoy to the disengagement process, James
Wolfensohn, has urged Israel to free access to Gaza so that living
standards can improve after the evacuation of the territory's 8000
Jewish settlers. Otherwise, it is feared the present relative calm
will be replaced by a new cycle of violence and despair.

Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced
yesterday that a parliamentary election would be held in January,
in a sign of efforts to meet demands for reform as a condition for
eventual statehood. He announced the move two months after
postponing a July 17 vote, saying he needed time to resolve a
dispute over electoral law reforms.